Racing Steering Boxes & Components

When you spin the steering wheel, your front wheels also turn, allowing your race car to move left or right. This happens because of your steering system, and particularly the steering box that converts your steering effort into the swiveling movement of the front wheels. It is a key component of any steering system that links the steering wheel and the front wheels. The steering box is much more than just a method of steering your car, since it not only allows you to guide the vehicle but also multiplies your effort, making handling your car easier and safer.

Depending on the type of your steering system, you may have either a manual or power steering box. Both types provide several pros and cons, and are available in different designs. Manual steering boxes come in three major variations, including worm and sector, worm and roller, and cam and lever ones. Every manual steering box arrangement is quite simple and reliable, and features minimum components to ensure long-lasting hassle-free performance. Manual steering boxes are easy to maintain and repair, which makes them ideal for lightweight race cars where minimum steering effort is required, whereas, high reliability and strength are crucial.

Technology is constantly changing, so the majority of today’s vehicles, including race cars, come equipped with power steering. There are two main types of power steering arrangement, such as hydraulic and electrical. Hydraulic steering systems use hydraulic pressure created by a pump to multiply the steering effort. The steering box in such systems has a more complex design and is usually larger than its mechanical counterparts. When it comes to electrical steering systems, they deliver even more steering assistance to the driver. Instead of hydraulic pressure, they use electricity to help you turn the steering wheel. Such systems come with less complex steering boxes, which combine the best of both worlds: the reliability of manual boxes and strength of their hydraulic counterparts.